The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18


the amount for the pot Whenever it rains the
man who bet on the rain takes ST. Whenever
the day is fair the other fellow takes 81. So far
the rain man has steadily won since July %, the
day on which the bet began.
QUEEN VICTORIA knew nothing about Lord
Charles Beresford's domestic signal at the naval
review until two three days afterward. Then
she remembered that she had noticed the sig
mailing without knowing what it meant, and
even. attracted by the signal mans adroit ma
nipulatiou of the flags, had called Princess
Beatrce's attention 10 him, and the Princess
had made sketch of him, subject of fut-
ure painting.
THE proprietor of a temperance-drink estab-
lishment in New York, said to be the largest in
the country, reports that he sells from three
thousand to four thousand drinks daily. and that
the business has shown increase every year
since the elaborate fountains and Handsomely
variety of beverages is unlimited. Fifty syrups
or havoring compounds and twenty live tonics
are said to be known to the trade.
GEORGE MACDONALD the famous British
novelist, poet and preacher, is a man Of sixty
three years of age, though he does not look more
than forty. He derives handsome income from
thirty volumes of novels and nine volumes of
poetry He receives an annual pension of
$500 from the Queens civil list a compliment
to his literary ability AS a preacher he has a
high reputation. His deli very is most impressive
and his discOurses are DO tn scholarly and broad
minded.
AS test of credulity, the following fish story.
grayely related in contemporary. may be of
use: SIN 1871, when Mrs. Julia A. Lennon was
on her wedding trip, she lost her engagement
ring while washing her hands in the toet-room
of Pullman car few days ago Toledo
hshmonger. while cleaning some whitefish,
found the ring inside of one. It still bore the
inscription j. A. B. Chicago, go It is sup
posed to have passed through the waste pipe
as the train was crossing the st. Lawrence and
to have been snapped up as it fell"
THE favorite fishing ground of Joseph Jeffer-
ferson is Marion, Mass. little village of Buz-
yards bay, the artistic features and quetness of
which being two qualities which he enjoys ex-
ceedinglv. There, arrayed in rough suit of
CO rduroys and a Tam O. Shanter cap, with a
sketchbook under his a rod upon his
shoulder, he wanders at will. sometimes taking
with deft touch a bit of pleasant scenery,
casting the fly with practiced skill across of
the many pools and streams with which the re-
gion abounds.
RETURNING European tourists speak of an evil
which they say has apparently sprung from the
statement of former American travellers. These
former travellers, the later ones say, impressed
all their American friends intending a trip to
the United Kingdom and the continent with the
belief that constant and liberal fees must be
given at every STEP sit has become so now"
remarked voyager on La Champagne, ''that
dry goods clerks, men who open your cab doors
and every lackey under the of France ex-
pect Americans TO Zee them Inc urch1ns or
Havre run after you and shont. Sou, sou" just
as the Cairoites shout, "Baksheesh." A sou
isn't much to an American, and he generously,
pays. sometimes in order to stop the racket A
sou to ragged urchin is worth ten cents of our
money Ia young fortune to the little devilsl
The Americans are foolish to continue the sys-
tenn.
CHARLES SUMNER was never guilty Of pro-
family" writes his former secretary yet he
was tolerant of those of his associates who. like
Wodo riohfe
would drop with great vigor into the vernacuar
OF his early days. Once when the Senator from
Ohio had made the air sulphurous and lurid
with his picturesque profanity over peculiarly
esasperating and disastrous performance in
grophobia of one of generals, a milk-and-
water sort of person who sneered, in his absence
at old Ben's language was checked by Summers
stare, and by his saying: Gould you have given
oaths.' was the reply. Still if it had to be
done said the Senator, you will admit that it
was well done But the oaths reiterated the
dettante. 'Ah, said Sumner, they are of the
kind that my uncle Toby said the recording
angel will blot out with tear And then he
added, rehectively: But in old Ben's it will
be rather hard on the lacnrymal glands"
A CORRESPONDENT of the Missouri Republican
gives this account of the well-known poem,
"Antony and Cleopatra" which was written in
1858 10y Gen. William n. Lytle. He SAYS "A
literary friend of General Lytles (he was then
major general of militia for the Southern dis
trict of Ohio twas walking along the street in
Cincinnati, one day, when some one slapped
him on the back. Turning ne saw Lyte. who
was then under the influence of liquor and who
said to him: i say, c., have perpetrated a
poem. and want your opinion of it. Come in
and hear it, They accordingly repaired to
Lytle's ROOM and over a couple of 'brandes
Lytle recited his Antony and Cleopatra Hav-
ing full, deep. rich voice and being an excellent
elocutionist. he recited the poem in way that
enchanted his friend, who was lavish in his
praises of it. His enthusiasm both surprised
and delighted Lyle, who said: why, c.
am glad you think we'll of it. for was afraid tc
send it for publication until had somebody's
opinion of it. The fact is l wrote it last night
when / was tight He then told how he had
been around with some friends. and returning
to his room at a late hour picked up a volume of
Shakespeare. Happening TO open it at the play
of Antony and Cleopatra the first words that
met his eye were those of Antonys dying speech
Il am dying Egypt dyner Struck by the
words and under the inspiration of the moment,
he seized pen and scrubbed off the poem"
COMMENT AND OPINION